Volunteers Archive

A strong volunteer base makes for a healthy long-term parent group. You'll find tons of ideas in the articles below to help you get greater parent and community involvement in your PTO. Get more ideas and information on the PTO Volunteers resources page. (For articles about getting more moms and dads engaged at school, go to the Parent Involvement archive.)

Articles with a plus sign () are available to PTO Today Plus members only.

• 9 Steps To Recruit More Volunteers - Building your volunteer base starts with creating relationships. Follow these steps to success.
• Developing New PTO and PTA Leaders - It takes ongoing effort to cultivate the parents who will run the group after you retire.
• Build Your PTO Volunteer Power - Successful strategies PTOs use to connect with parents, recruit new members, and grow their volunteer base.
• Insights From a First-Time Volunteer - How do newbies perceive your parent group? A new volunteer’s insightful look at how others view the PTO.
• Treat Your Volunteers Right - Don’t wait for the big annual event to say thanks. We've rounded up a bunch of simple recognition and appreciation ideas that can be used year-round.
• Beat the Midyear Volunteer Slump - A focus on recognition and communication can help energize your group's recruitment efforts.
• A Tale of Two Volunteers - Bridging the newbie-veteran gap.
• Working Moms Are Top U.S. Volunteers - A survey identifies working mothers as the most likely to give of their time.
• Making School-Church Partnerships Work - Handled well, relationships with local religious organizations can lead to positive outcomes for schools and students.
• Service Groups Lend a Hand - Lions, Kiwanis, Rotary, and other community organizations can provide a lot of help to parent groups.
• Confront the Fear of Quitting - Concerns about how they'll be treated if they stop volunteering makes some parents avoid getting involved at all.
• Don't Say It! - 12 casual comments that discourage involvement, 12 positive alternatives that build it.
• Protect Volunteers From Legal Risks - Having a few key policies in place can minimize the risks to parent volunteers.
• New Laws for Screening Volunteers - Three states passed laws in 2007 that addressed fingerprinting or doing background checks on school volunteers.
• Recruiting Preschool Parents - Involvement by parents whose children haven't even started school yet is great for everyone: They get a low-stress introduction to the school, and your group expands its membership base (and the pool of future leaders, too).
• Connect With Grandparents and Seniors - Reaching out to grandparents and seniors will pay dividends. Here’s how to make it happen.
• A Tool To Manage Volunteers - PTO Manager helps you find and track volunteers, and manage your finances more efficiently.
• 25 Ways To Catch and Keep Volunteers - Tips to lure volunteers in, keep them happy, and avoid the pitfalls that will keep them from coming back.
• Tax Breaks for Volunteers - School or parent group volunteers may be entitled to some tax breaks for their contributions; tax professionals recommend taking deductions only if the group is a registered 501(c)(3) charity.
• Do You Really Want Help? - Often it's easier to just do things yourself. But for the long-term health of your group, your time can be better spent.